We're Pacific NW U.S. earthquake experts ready to talk about tsunamis, earthquake early warning and more

[u/WaQuakePrepare]

EDIT: We are pretty much done! Thanks everyone for the great questions. We have some folks that could check in later if we didn’t get to your question or if you discover us later today but the answers won’t be right away. Remember no matter where you are, we invite you to drop, cover and hold on at 10:20 am Thursday. Learn more at shakeout.org

Oct. 20 is the Great ShakeOut, where millions of people across the country practice earthquake safety and drop, cover and hold on under a sturdy object. Today, we have experts in Washington state and Oregon talking about ShakeOut, earthquakes and we can even touch on Pacific Northwest volcanoes. For instance, did you now it’s possible to now get a warning on your phone before an earthquake strikes? It’s called the ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System.

We are a team with a variety of expertise particularly in the Pacific Northwest including: earthquakes (science/physics, monitoring, protective actions, preparedness), tsunamis (tsunami safety, hazards, modeling, preparedness, and recovery), structural engineering/building performance and emergency preparedness.

PROOF HERE. More proof here.

From Washington Emergency Management Division:

Brian Terbush

Elyssa Tappero

Mark Pierepiekarz, P.E., S.E.

Hollie Stark

Dante DiSabatino

From Pacific Northwest Seismic Network:

Bill Steele

Dr. Renate Hartog

Dr. Alex Hutko

From Washington Department of Natural Resources (Washington Geological Survey):

Corina Allen

Daniel Eungard

From Simpson Strong-Tie (Structural Products and Solutions including Earthquake Retrofits):

Emory Montague, S.E.

From Oregon Office of Emergency Management:

Althea Rizzo

[u/NoTengoBiblioteca]

Is there a system of sirens that will sound when P waves from the big one is detected? I know theres like amber alert but im worried if it hits at night when Im asleep.

Also I know in seattle theres a lot of unreinforced masonry buldings that are not retrofitted. Is there any possibilty that a law will require those buldinng to be retrofitted, along with other building that where designed before we knew how big the CSZ earthquake is?

[u/WaQuakePrepare → u/NoTengoBiblioteca]

Regarding unreinforced masonry building retrofits, the City of Seattle has been working towards that goal. Right now there has been a resolution approved late last year to encourage retrofits and put a framework in place. They're also working on retrofit standards. While there is no mandatory ordinance at the moment, there are definitely things in the works to encourage and facilitate improving that vulnerable building stock. More info here. We have some resources to help with understanding the URM risk and retrofit solutions.

~ Emory (Simpson Strong-Tie)